Israel cuts off funding for West Bank outposts

[November 03, 2008]  JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli official says the government will cut off funding for unauthorized outposts in the West Bank.

Government spokesman Mark Regev says Defense Minister Ehud Barak has two weeks to begin taking steps and report back to the Cabinet. Regev said Monday this was "a matter of the rule of law."

The Cabinet decided Sunday to ratchet up law enforcement measures directed at extremist settlers. It also decided to halt government funding for the some 100 outposts built by settlers. The outposts were never officially authorized, but have received years of tacit or active government assistance.

The government has promised in the past to evacuate outposts but has done nearly nothing.

[Associated Press]

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